Notes and Essays -- John Brown

"The Americans are, in principle, willing to do this," a Ukrainian source familiar with the talks said. by Tim Zadorozhnyy The Kyiv Independent , May 11, 2026 7:01 PM 7 min read   The renewed push comes as U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a three-day ceasefire from May 9–11 in Russia's war against Ukraine — a move widely interpreted as an attempt to ensure Moscow could hold its Victory Day parade. "It'd be nice" if the ceasefire lasted longer than three days, Trump later told reporters. But his remarks have raised a question now hanging over the negotiations: what exactly does the Kremlin expect to receive in return for a longer truce? Despite numerous rounds of U.S.-mediated negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia, diplomacy has produced no meaningful breakthrough so far. According to people familiar with the talks, three major disputes continue to block any agreement. The central issue remains Russia's territorial demands. Article ...

With peace talks on ice and Ukraine now more self-reliant, President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to be stepping away from the United States. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Yerevan, Armenia, last week. Mr. Zelensky has publicly criticized the United States in ways that would have been unthinkable last year. Credit... Ludovic Marin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By Kim Barker, Constant Méheut and Maria Varenikova Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine The New York Times , May 11, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET The trouble was a long time coming. More than a year ago, after the inauguration of President Trump, the United States stopped being the kind of partner it used to be for Ukraine in the war against Russia. But now, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine seems to be stepping back from that relationship as well, distancing his country from what was once its biggest ally.   Call it a trial separation, largely set in motion by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. American-backed peace talks t...